Snapped up for what Paul Lambert eventually explained was around £750,000, the Villa Park faithful never took him to their hearts.

Villa boss Steve Bruce (Image: Eddie Greville)

They thought they might when he curled in an exquisite free-kick in thrilling 3-2 win against Manchester City a couple of months after he arrived, but that was his Villa highlight and such a moment was never repeated.

He dyed his hair claret and blue ahead of the derby against fierce rivals Birmingham City last season and was filmed singing Villa chants on a Saturday night drive through Brum, which brought him some salvation, but he was unable to shake off the stigma of his role in the 2015-16 relegation season.

Bacuna produced some poor performances that season - to be fair he was in good (or rather bad company) - and he compounded it when an ill-timed interview he gave overseas about wanting to play in the Champions League coincided with Villa heading for the Championship.